Saturday, August 6, 2011

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you can’t see it in one either.

We took about an hour and a half bus ride from our port, Civitavecchia, to Roma! We decided Vatican City was a major priority, so we began the day there. It really does feel like it’s own little tourist flooded country, solely focused on christianity, catholicism, and it’s history. I expected to be amazed by the Vatican, but I didn’t expect it to be quite so meaningful to me. Just being there, in such a beautiful place where so much history occurred and that is still so important today, was completely and utterly surreal. We began in Saint Peter’s Basilica (the front and most visible part of Vatican City), featuring Michelangelo’s Pieta. It was difficult to leave the breath taking, Basilica, but our day had only begun, so we walked through Vatican City to the Vatican museums. We trekked through the museum, packed like sardines, through one intricately, artistic room after the next on our way to the Sistine Chapel. How did one man create so much beauty? Words truly cannot describe. I really hope to go back to Vatican City when I have time to study everything more thoroughly. After Vatican City, we visited the stunning Trevi fountain, stood in awe for a few minutes, tossed our coin, made a wish, and moved on to get a taste of ancient Rome. We walked by the Colosseum and the other incredible ancient ruins nearby. Looking at these amazing landmarks, it truly is a marvel that they are still standing. We grabbed some gelato, walked along the Tevere River, stopped by Castel Sant’ Angelo, and it was time to head back to port. To say the least, Rome is overwhelming...in the best way.